Mimi Brian Vance

Mimi Brian Vance grew up in the rich gumbo of languages and cultures of Louisiana. The rich oral tradition of the bayou country inspired her passion for languages and story-telling. As a U.S. Diplomat for nearly a decade, she constantly used her foreign language skills at posts around the world. But it wasn't until the middle-of-the-night baby-wake-ups with her two nearly-Irish-twins that she realized just how much they needed another way to 'talk.' American Sign Language gave her and her hearing children who weren't yet old enough to talk the ability to understand each other. Convinced that 'baby signs' are the best thing since sliced bread, she wants to share this tool with other moms, dads, grandparents, and anyone lucky enough to have a baby or toddler in their lives. She created a series of books as the optimum teaching, learning, sharing, bonding, nurturing and enriching means of bringing signs to babies. The delightful Words by the Handful stories create an interactive signing activity in an easily shared, readily repeated, highly beneficial, read-aloud experience. The Words by the Handful books are for the 6-month to 3-year old age group. Books in the series are Milk and More, Boat and Bath, Baby and Bunny, and Book and Bed. Mimi also teaches in-person and online classes, does early education teacher training, and develops other baby signing products. For more information on signing, Mimi, and WBTH products and services, www.wordsbythehandful.com. Mimi is also the co-author of a number of books written to promote and support the programs of nonprofit organizations. Tummies on the Run, co-written with Andrea White, and illustrated by the inimitable Rob Shepperson, promotes public parks and fitness, especially in Houston's Memorial Park. Tummies is available through Amazon.